Texas Lottery on a lucky streak

KRISTI NIX

Published
10:52 am CST, Friday, January 20, 2012

Texas Lottery ticket sales rose to an all time high at $3.8
billion in 2011 according to Texas Lottery Commission reports. From
that amount roughly $1.02 billion went to the Foundation School
Fund to help cover public education costs.

Texas Lottery ticket sales rose to an all time high at $3.8 billion in 2011 according to Texas Lottery Commission reports. From that amount roughly $1.02 billion went to the Foundation School Fund to help cover

Texas Lottery ticket sales rose to an all time high at $3.8
billion in 2011 according to Texas Lottery Commission reports. From
that amount roughly $1.02 billion went to the Foundation School
Fund to help cover public education costs.

Texas Lottery ticket sales rose to an all time high at $3.8 billion in 2011 according to Texas Lottery Commission reports. From that amount roughly $1.02 billion went to the Foundation School Fund to help cover

After 20 years of risky business, the Texas Lottery is still cashing in big.

Lottery ticket sales rose to an all time high of $3.8 billion in 2011 according to Lottery Commission reports. From that amount, roughly $1.02 billion went to the Foundation School Fund to help cover public education costs. The remaining balance was paid out in prizes and administrative costs.

Over the years, lottery officials have added new games. Lotto Texas was launched in 1992. Mega Millions followed in 2003 and Powerball ticket sales began in 2010.

Last October, changes to the Powerball game were announced. The good news? The odds of winning were better and the jackpot was increased to a staggering $40 million. The bad news for players was the ticket cost was doubled, going from $1 to $2.

The price increase has met with mixed reviews from area retailers.

“In my opinion it is not a good thing,” the owner of Baywood Liquor Store in Friendswood said. “The cost has doubled. There are people who play $10 every week. It’s not as much fun now because they don’t get as much for their money.”

Other retailers said sales had not been affected by the price change.

“People love to play the lottery. Our customers are still buying lottery tickets,” said Farzana Khalani. She and her husband Ike are owners of the Pearland Food Mart at 4415 Broadway. “No one has complained about the price.”

The new $2 Powerball tickets went on sale January 15 and the first $40 million jackpot drawing was held January 18.

Another creative addition to the Texas Lottery came in 2009 with the launch of the John Wayne themed scratch-off ticket. Sporting a picture of The Duke in sporty war-hero attire, the Veterans Cash lottery ticket generates funding for veterans’ assistance programs. For each $2 scratch-off ticket, a portion of the cost is donated to the Texas Veterans Commission’s Fund for Veterans Assistance.

According to Texas Lottery Commission officials, Veterans Cash lotto tickets provide grants for non-profits and veterans’ organizations for a range of programs including counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, housing assistance for homeless veterans, legal services and family and children’s services.

To date, the game has raised more than $15 million for veterans’ assistance programs.

It is a popular game. But, not all lottery ticket retailers sell Veterans Cash lotto tickets. In Pearland, only 25 of the registered 45 lottery retailers currently carry the ticket. And, 15 of the 25 registered lotto retailers in Friendswood sell Veterans Cash lotto tickets.

To find a retailer that offers Veterans Cash lottery tickets, visit www.txlottery.org and click on the “store locator” link.